When humidity made invitees hand-held fans on I-Day

New Delhi, Aug 15 (UNI) Though it was a cloudy morning at the Red Fort, the venue for the celebrations of 62nd Independence Day, high humidity was the order of the day which nagged the present audiences and the political elite alike.

Not knowing what to do to beat the heat before or during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's address to the nation, with even water becoming a precious commodity at the venue, some invitees and political guests struck upon a novel idea of making the optimum utilisation of invites and they converted them into hand-held fans.

Many of them, who were sweating profusely in VVIP and VIP sections, were seen fanning themselves with the invitation cards.

The cards, which were issued by the Defence Ministry after meticulously analysing the details of the invitees concerned, lost their ''sheen and value'' once their holders managed to enter the venue.

So, the holders had no other better idea than to use the invites ''to the hilt'' and with no other means to beat the heat, they dried up their sweat with the cards.

A primary school teacher, Shanu, who was present there, said,'' As we have entered the venue, the card's value is almost nil. So, why not use them to dry our sweat. What is the harm?'' UNI RL RC AS1109